A multi-piece
solid golf ball has a core, an envelope layer encasing the core, an intermediate layer encasing the envelope layer, and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has formed on a surface thereof a plurality of dimples. The envelope layer is formed of an
inner envelope layer, an intermediate envelope layer and an outer envelope layer. The inner, intermediate and outer envelope
layers, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed primarily of a resin material which may be of the same or different types, and the core is formed primarily of a
rubber material. The cover has a
material hardness which is the same as or lower than the core center
hardness. One of the inner
layers has a
material hardness which is higher than either or both of the cover
material hardness and the average core
hardness (defined as the arithmetic mean of the core surface
hardness and the core center hardness). The
golf ball, even when used by those golfers among professionals and skilled amateurs who, on striking a ball with a driver, tend to generate shots having a rather low spin rate and a low
launch angle, has an excellent flight performance and also excellent
controllability in the short game that are acceptable to such users. In addition, it has a good feel on
impact and an excellent scuff resistance.